Heikki Hokkanen, Janne Lehto, Ingeborg Menzler-Hokkanen (2025)
This guide explores insect pest challenges on golf courses in Finland, where chafer beetles and crane flies are causing increasing damage, particularly in the south. A national survey revealed that infestations are often made worse by bird foraging, leaving greens and fairways vulnerable.
With pesticides being phased out, the publication highlights ecological strategies rooted in integrated pest management. These include nematode treatments, improved drainage and soil health, the use of more resilient turf species, and measures to attract natural predators, such as starlings. Case experiences from Finland, Denmark, and the UK illustrate both the potential and current limits of biological and physical methods compared to chemicals.
The guide emphasises that greenkeepers will need to develop new expertise, while golfers may need to accept that some pest damage is inevitable as the game moves toward more sustainable course management.
